Dive Brief:
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Nordstrom on Thursday will open its seventh Local store. The merchandise-free location on Fillmore Street in San Francisco’s Pacific Heights neighborhood will be the first Local in Northern California and the fourth in the state.
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As with other Locals, the 1,750 square-foot location will emphasize services, including order pick up, alterations, returns, gift wrapping and styling advice. People can drop off used clothing, which Nordstrom will donate to the St. Anthony Foundation, or empty beauty packaging for recycling.
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Customers will get free treats during the store’s first four weekends of operation, thanks to partnerships with local businesses including ice cream, candy and donut shops, the company said.
Dive Insight:
This opening will mark Nordstrom’s return to San Francisco, after closing its downtown flagship and Rack stores a couple of years ago. Earlier this year, speaking to the planning commission regarding the plans for Fillmore Street, Jacklyn Gamble, then the director of selling programs at Nordstrom, cited strong foot traffic and retail activity in the neighborhood.
Nordstrom innovated its Local concept, which doesn’t carry merchandise but offers a variety of services, about eight years ago. The locations are conducive to city living, based in neighborhoods.
"We’ve heard from our customers in the [Pacific Heights] area that they want services such as online order pickup, returns and alterations closer to where they live and work,” Fanya Chandler, president of Nordstrom stores, said in a statement.
Some people in the area had resisted Nordstrom’s arrival, however, worried that it could snarl traffic. Others argued against a chain taking a space that could go to a local business, according to a transcript from the planning commission meeting. On Monday Nordstrom said the location offers validated parking.
Earlier this year, Nordstrom opened its third Local store in the New York area, in Brooklyn.
Nordstrom became a private company earlier this year when the Nordstrom family and El Puerto de Liverpool acquired it for $6.25 billion. The Nordstroms retain a controlling stake.
